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Posts: 1590 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Is vs. Are
    Posted: January 03 2007 at 11:55
American English uses "is" to refer to a band (e.g. "Yes is a great band"), because it is singular, but this sounds strange to me as a speaker of UK English.
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Posts: 469 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 02 2007 at 21:27
Originally posted by Sasquamo

Well, I'm no English master, but I think the correct way to say it would be:

"Dream Theater is a great band."

You use a singular verb (is) for a singular subject (Dream Theater).  You're only talking about one Dream Theater, so you use "is."  You may be talking about the members of the band and not the band itself, but grammar rules don't know that!


I agree, but what if the band name is plural?  In that case I think you would still have to use "are" when referring to the band as a single unit.   "The Flower Kings is a great band" just doesn't sound right at all.
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Posts: 15523 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 02 2007 at 13:48
Originally posted by Geck0

Ben is correct in using "them", so what's the issue here? LOL




Me taking something the wrong way. I thought he was saying I was wrong. Oh well we all make mistakes.
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Posts: 46728 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 02 2007 at 12:59
Originally posted by Geck0

Ben is correct in using "them", so what's the issue here? 


just congratulating Ben on being correct.
     
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Posts: 90013 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 02 2007 at 12:30
True, but I'm not infallible, so I'd rather know which is the correct way.  Maybe someone else can confirm which way is correct?  Where's Peter Rideout when you need him...
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Posts: 3495 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 02 2007 at 12:19
Geck0, your inner feelings, being a native speaker of English, should help you. (I always rely only on my own feelings about grammar, in my native language):
 
Van der Graaf Generator are excellent!
 
Van de Graaff generator is excellent.
 
Van der Graaf Generator is an excellent band.
 
 
...but I have no moral rights to discuss an issue of the foreign language seriously enough...


Edited by Fassbinder - January 02 2007 at 14:17
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Posts: 865 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 02 2007 at 12:02
To me, it feels natural to say "band X is great", but like someone else mentioned, it's also natural to refer to the band as "they"/"them".

But, luckily, here in Norway, we use the same form of the verb whether it's singular, plural, first/second/third person anyway Tongue
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Posts: 90013 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 02 2007 at 11:51
Yes, but many people say:

Genesis is great.

Which to me is incorrect.

It's either:

Genesis is a great band

or

Genesis are great

Maybe the latter is incorrect, but it just sounds better to me.  I guess if I used the first example, then I shouldn't have to worry anymore.


Edited by Geck0 - January 02 2007 at 11:51
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Posts: 1498 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 02 2007 at 11:47
Going back to the original question. Is is grammatically correct when referring to a band as a single entity; i.e "Genesis is a great band". You would use "are" when saying something like "Genesis are great musicians".

However you may think that they aren't!
When people get lost in thought it's often because it's unfamiliar territory.
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Posts: 90013 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 02 2007 at 10:57
Ben is correct in using "them", so what's the issue here? LOL
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Posts: 15523 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 02 2007 at 10:25
Oh well I took that the wrong way. But I still have a good argument on why I used "them".
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Posts: 46728 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 02 2007 at 10:22
I support "them" by my example, Ben.
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Posts: 15523 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 02 2007 at 09:39
^^ Well Rico, what type of singular form who you use for a band? Would it have been better if I said I never heard of him? No because the band is made up of more than one person so I have never heard the band members (them) play.
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Posts: 46728 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 02 2007 at 09:35
more notes:

by a simple conversation, in which I was talking of The Nice, Ben (progisnotmylife) said "never heard of them

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Posts: 90013 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 15:27
That is true, Sasquatch.  I guess we all like to shorten sentences into bad English.  Saying it the way you have done, is correct.

I will try and take care in future and not use poor English, such as: Dream Theater is bad.


Edited by Geck0 - January 01 2007 at 15:28
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Posts: 828 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 15:22
Well, I'm no English master, but I think the correct way to say it would be:

"Dream Theater is a great band."

You use a singular verb (is) for a singular subject (Dream Theater).  You're only talking about one Dream Theater, so you use "is."  You may be talking about the members of the band and not the band itself, but grammar rules don't know that!
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Posts: 46728 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 14:58
Originally posted by andu


Originally posted by Ricochet

Originally posted by andu

I R baboon. I R like VdGG.




     
gotta hand it to the classics...HE doesn't care about grammar...   ----->


yes, I was completely blown by the nostalgia of watching that senseless cartoon.
     

and immaculate joke to the topic.
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Posts: 3094 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 14:48
Originally posted by Ricochet

Originally posted by andu

I R baboon. I R like VdGG.




     


gotta hand it to the classics...

HE doesn't care about grammar...   ----->
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Posts: 46728 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 14:42
Originally posted by andu

I R baboon. I R like VdGG.




     
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Posts: 1386 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: January 01 2007 at 14:18
I really liked rico's post about it...
 
It seems that most people think is sounds weird, while I think are sounds weird.
 
so I guess we'll never really agree. But in the long run it really doesn't matter, I suppose.
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